What is better food, better health?

Am I a paleo blogger? No. Do I believe health starts with nutrition? Absolutely. If you're looking for a manifesto on clean eating and arguments in favor of a paleo lifestyle, you won't find it here. Check out The Whole9. In fact even if you're not looking for something radical check that site out anyway. It's a great starting point. It's got links and articles and a whole bunch of science - data - about nutrition and how our bodies use macronutrients. I'm not a licensed expert but I listen to experts who back up their claims with real compelling data. And I've tried a few different things to "eat healthier" over the years - Weight Watchers, Zone, starvation (that was a brilliant one) to name a few. Nothing has been better for me and yielded better results than eating low glycemic with a paleo foundation (it's actually similar to Zone too, but with less precision). I have a busy schedule, a two year old, a husband, a full time job, I work out and I have a closet for a kitchen. I figure there must be a few people out there who can relate to some of that. I used to think eating healthy and making time for regular meaningful exercise was "hard." It really just takes some guidance, awareness, and enthusiasm. So here's a start - here's what I cook and eat (and sometimes what I read).

Friday, March 22, 2013

Almond Date Balls

Besides being an insufferable crunchy snack addict, I also have a wicked sweet tooth. I just can't break my habits of mind! Luckily, there are wonderful ways to answer that craving for sweet that won't totally send you off into the abyss. Remember - slight edge.

I make these into small balls because they are very sweet and should be eaten sparingly - like only when you feel yourself craving sugary evilness (also why the recipe makes so few). If you've ever had a Lara bar, these are like those. And they are so easy and quick to make it's absurd!


Ingredients:
5 medjool dates
1/2 C almond meal (left over from almond milk)*
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 C almond meal on the side

Supplies:
Knife
Food processor

Yield: 8 balls

*Depending on how moist your almond meal is from making the almond milk you may be able to use 2/3 C almond meal and make more balls. Or leave out the honey and thus lower the glycemic index.

Pit the dates and roughly chop them. Add all ingredients except the 1/4 C almond meal into food processor and run until evenly chopped and combined. Form into balls about the size of a ping-ping ball, and roll in the extra 1/4 C almond meal.



Dates can be expensive and are a pretty strong flavor so you can substitute prunes instead of dates, or even apricots (though make sure there's no added sugar) but depending how moist/dry the apricots are you might need to use more honey to hold the ball together.

Each choice is obviously going to lend a different flavor. I might try apricots and try using some banana to add moisture instead of honey. I'll keep you posted!



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